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Reed and Barnes

Reed & Barnes is one of the oldest architect firm in Australia. It was formed by Joseph Reed and Fredrick Barnes in 1862. Reed & Barnes designed many iconic buildings in Melbourne such as Melbourne Town Hall, Scots Church and Royal Exhibition building. Now the firm is known as “Bates Smart”

Company

Before Reed & Barnes was formed in 1862, Joseph Reed was elected as the first member of the Victorian Institute of Architecture in 1856. In the same year, Frederick Barnes whom arrived Melbourne in 1852 joined Reed’s office in 1856. After they formed Reed & Barnes, the company mainly engaged in large and complex projects as well as competitions which led to the expansion of the office. Reed’s and Barnes’s talent complemented one another as a cooperative partnership. Joseph Reeds is the head architect in the company while Barnes dealt with project management, quantity surveying and costing, and the preparation of technical and detailed drawings and specifications. There was a time when Reed left the company to Europe for an unknown reason which Barnes took charge of Reed’s office during Reed’s absence. Reed’s time overseas raised the issue of who designed various buildings begun when he was away, most notably are the University of Melbourne and the AMP society building in Sydney. After Reed returned to Melbourne, variety and character of his designs changed, reflecting of his travels to England, Italy and France, most significant was the introduction to coloured brick architecture of Lombardy. Presumably he was influenced in this by the English empathy for the veto created by English Ruskin’s writings and Italian books that talked about brick and marble architecture. In 1874, Reed and Barnes both resigned from Victorian Institute of Architects (VIA) due to dispute over for joining a competition to design the Eastern market held by the Melbourne City Council, which was strongly discouraged by the VIA. In 1882, Reed started to sought new partners and by January 1883, Reed, Henderson and Smart had come into existence. In the same year Barnes was ill and had to retire from the practice and W.B. Tappin become partner and the firm was rename as Reed, Smart and Tappin. A year later barnes died at age of 60 due to his illness and passed on his will generously to Reed in his will. Reed died 6 years after Barnes at age of 67, and Smart become head Architect of the company. The company was renamed several times after because of new partners “Smart, Tappin and Peebles”, “Bates, Peebles and Smart” and finally become “Bates Smart”.

Notable Projects

-Melbourne Town Hall(1870 One of the most important public building in central Melbourne, Located along intersection of Collins and Swanston Street. French Second Empire styles features. Now Melbourne Town Hall is use for held events such as theatrical performances, weddings, receptions, exhibitions, corporate launches, school concerts, conferences, meetings and cocktail parties.

-Scots Church (1874)

Scots Church is the first Presbyterian church that is build in state of Victoria, located at the corner of Collins and Russell street.

-Royal Exhibition Building (1880)

It was build for Melbourne’s first international exhibition. It was the largest building in Australia and highest building in Melbourne when it was build. Now it is where trade shows, fairs, cultural and community events are held.

Other Projects

- St. Micheals Uniting Church, Exhibition St. (1867)

- The Menzies Hotel, William St. (1867)

- Rippon Lea Estate, Elsternwick (1868)

- Melbourne Trades Hall, Carlton (1873)

- Former bank of Australasia, Collin St. (1876)

- Eildon Mansion, St Kilda (1877)

- Eastern Market, Bourke St.(1877)

- Wilson Hall (Melbourne University), Calton (1882)

Competitions

- Won design competition of a Government House with a design proposal described being in the French Baronial Style, intended for Governor Sir Charles Darling. But got reject by Govern (1864)

- Competed in the design competition for the Independent Church along Collin’s Street with a Gothic Revival style design proposal. (1866)

- Won a competition to design the Eastern market held by the Melbourne City Council. (1874)

Reference

Goad P Bates Smart: 150 years of Australian Architecture Thames And Hudson Australia (2004)